The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to offer Ishan Kishan a significant opportunity to revive his red-ball career, providing a potential path back to the Indian national team ahead of the Bangladesh Test series. This move comes amid growing uncertainty about Kishan’s international future following his exclusion from the central contracts list earlier this year.
Kishan, who has been notably absent from Indian squads across formats since February, was also overlooked during the T20 World Cup and was not mentioned during Gautam Gambhir’s first press conference as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team. However, a series of developments indicate that Kishan is poised for a comeback.
Ishan Kishan’s Return to Domestic Cricket
Reports from earlier this month revealed that after opting out of the Ranji Trophy last year, Kishan made himself available for the upcoming domestic season. He has already been included in the list of 25 pre-season probables by the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) after being counseled by national selectors. This decision aligns with BCCI Secretary Jay Shah’s recent emphasis that all available players, including India probables, should participate in domestic cricket when not on national duty.
Kishan is expected to play for Jharkhand in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, starting August 15 in Chennai. This domestic tournament will serve as a crucial platform for Kishan to showcase his skills ahead of the selection meeting for the Bangladesh Test series.
Selectors’ Focus on Red-Ball Cricket
A recent report from the Indian Express indicated that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is likely to pick Kishan for the Duleep Trophy, which will take place from September 5 to 24. The tournament will feature prominent Indian players such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and is expected to play a key role in the selectors’ decision-making process for the Bangladesh Test series squad.
The selectors are reportedly keen on seeing Kishan resume his red-ball career as part of his comeback strategy. This move echoes the recent return of Shreyas Iyer, who, like Kishan, was previously denied a central contract but made a successful return to the Indian team during the ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier this month.
The Future of Pujara and Rahane
In contrast to Kishan’s potential resurgence, the report also suggests that the road ahead looks bleak for veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Despite Pujara being among the top run-getters in the Ranji Trophy last season and Rahane leading Mumbai to a title win, the selectors are reportedly not considering them for the Duleep Trophy. Instead, they are focusing on younger talents like Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel to fill the shoes of the seasoned duo.
This decision likely marks the end of an era for Pujara and Rahane, who have been stalwarts of India’s Test batting lineup for years. Their exclusion from the Duleep Trophy squad signals the selectors’ intention to move forward with a new generation of players as they prepare for the Bangladesh Test series.
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